Connecting with Black History Through Community and Nature

In 2009, Rue Mapp started a blog to share her experience participating in outdoor recreation activities as a Black woman in America. That blog grew into Outdoor Afro, a nationwide leadership network helping Black people engage with the outdoors, learn about the Black history of public spaces, and support conservation efforts. Salesforce.org spoke with Rue about the inspiration behind Outdoor Afro, how technology has shaped its growth, and what’s next for the organization.

Outdoor Afro is a nationwide leadership network helping Black people engage with the outdoors, learn about the Black history of public spaces, and support conservation efforts.

What inspired you to start Outdoor Afro and grow it from a blog into a leadership network?

Rue Mapp (RM): I didn’t start with the intention of growing a national network. I started out sharing my experiences with the outdoors through my love of writing. The first post